Yarm pupils launch politics podcast on Spotify

A new political podcast, The House of Comments, hosted by students at school, has launched on Spotify, offering sharp, youth-led insight into the pressing political issues of the day.

Created and produced by Yarm School Sixth Form students, the podcast provides a fresh take on politics, aiming to spark discussions among young people about a range of topics across society.

The first three episodes have already attracted considerable attention. The opening episode examines the fallout from the autumn party conferences following the 2024 general election. The second explores the unfolding drama of the US Presidential election. The third discusses global geopolitical tensions and includes an interview with Lt Col Bobby Bryan, an expert in global defence and security.

The podcast originated from discussions in the school’s Politics Society, where pupils had been exploring the rise of podcasting and its impact on political discourse. This sparked the idea of creating a student-led platform to examine political themes in greater depth and become more appealing to an audience of teens and young adults.

The team have recorded the series in a professional studio setting, with guidance from David Benyon, a former pupil and host of the well-regarded Political Risk Podcast. David brought his expertise in geopolitics and podcasting to a workshop with the Politics Society, helping pupils refine and develop their vision for the project.

Sophie, (aged 18) one of the co-hosts, said: “It’s been an amazing opportunity to bring our ideas to life and create something that reflects how young people view the world of politics. We’ve learnt so much through the process, and it’s great to see people engaging with it.”

Huw Williams, Headmaster of Yarm School, said: “The podcast reflects the very best of what we encourage at Yarm: independent thinking, intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage with the world beyond the classroom. I’m incredibly proud of the students for their initiative and professionalism. Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous episodes, I look forward to hearing where they take The House of Comments next.”

For more information or to listen, search The House of Comments Political Podcast on Spotify.